So, on the ambulance boat – normally would be a wee adventure – taken to Samui, 40 minutes to this island – another ambulance to the ‘BIG’ hospital, straight into the ward which now confirmed as intensive care unit – ICU – the doctor said that people have died from what I’ve got – if only I knew – so I was under their spell. Pneumonia, I discovered – I asked how long for the treatment, when can I leave? After the full course of treatment, apparently. How long is ‘full?’.
So, a doctor and 6 nurses surround me and wire me up to everything available. Part 2 under way.
Head, heart, pulses, pressures, breathing, oxygen, start treatment. Still no one new where I was but I had visitors – from the finance dept, late on, first thing in the morning too and the order for breakfast choices – Asian or American choice. Priorities, systems need to be respected.
The finance dept were ruthless, demanded answers to how I was going to pay bills in this hospital and the one back in Phanang, demanded I contact the insurance firm – they were closed, a weekend – can’t be ill at the weekend apparently. And so it went on.
Flat out, no moving, too many wires and plugs and for the first of 10, no sleep to speak of.
6.00 am – morning Mr Donald (middle name) bath wash – 2 efficient nurses undressed me and washed my down in 12 minutes. Slowly embarrassment and dignity vanished, this was the first of 8 sessions, naked bed bathing!
Breakfast arrived, all ok, medicines with meals arrived, refill antibiotics, check all wires and readings, to be every two hours after this. Oxygen on full time – masks for average people squeeze my face, – 4 vein intrusions – thin veins apparently so lots of extra holes – and visits from the finance dept. Demanding I pay or get confirmation from the insurance people…at last I get in touch with Flo who gets onto the insurance folks, who were she assured me , ok and keen to help.
This was one of the low times, when one felt alone and isolated – one of many things I found about travelling solo – no companion or partner to help with clothes, finances or simply just to be there. Not thousands of miles away.
I did though get contact from friends back at Seaflower, who were trying to help and by default fulfilled the ‘family’ bit, a wee bit of security in a foreign land!days were repeated – naked bathing, regular use of urine bottles and after day 3, the need for the use of a toilet – ‘ Is it wee wee or poo poo Mr Donald?’ The first time, 3 days in, I asked to visit the loo, they suggested I use a metal commode on the bed. I mean, no, no and three times no. Six five feet tall nurses threatening to lift me and my 20+ stones onto a commode under my back with a threat of exploding innards!
Thank God I talked them out of it, but the towel wrapped journey in a wheel chair to the staff toilet was another wee adventure – and they insisted on watching in case I fell.
I was in the ICU for 9/10 days then moved to the side wards/rooms for 4 more. These were comfortable enough but without then service and support of ICU.
However moving out implied I was getting better, with regards to pneumonia. Not my leg though, which was receiving no treatment at all and was stopping me walking all together.
Doctors came and went, my friends from Seaflower in Koh Phanang sacrificed their time to agree to see me out of the hospital, came to Samui, hired a car and booked me a hotel to stay in prior to me to getting my scheduled flight.
Again things were not straight forward – I needed to revisit the hospital for a ‘fit to fly’ certificate which involved a full medical once over and an additional bill for £500.00. I paid up really to get away – I was over institutionalised.
My friends took me to the new hotel, stayed over to see me settled in, made arrangements re food and staff checking on me regularly. So 5 days later I travelled to the airport and found the wheelchair assistance and then waited for the next thing to go wrong in a 24 hour journey.
However it was ok, if long, long, long, and time to reflect. See part three, if you can be bothered.
POINT
Whilst I’m moaning and whinging about my fate, dear grandchildren, real grown up things were happening in the wider world..
Russia was murdering people by the thousands in Ukraine. End od 2023 into 2024 – have look back, see what you think.
At this time in 2024, there is a terrorist war between Hamas (Palestinian) terrorists and Israeli – so called military arm of their country. In my view they are murderers, no more no less than their adversaries – killing at last count 20,000 children and hundreds of aid workers.
Yet the Hammas are killing when they can!!
Look back, work out your views, if I’m still around lets have a chat about it.